AUS Alumna and Faculty Kate Sipe Wins Local PTA Golden Acorn Award

2002 AUS School of Education alumna and current AUS Adjunct Faculty Kate Sipe was recently honored with a Green Lake Elementary PTA Golden Acorn Award, as well as a Davis Law Group, P.S. School Supplies Gift Program’s Golden Apple Award for outstanding contributions to her school community. In the past, Sipe has won numerous awards and grants as well, including the Sister Schools Teacher of the Year Award.

For the law office financial award, Sipe was nominated by Marleen Arenivar, the proud parent of a Green Lake student, who believes that Sipe spends hundreds of dollars of her own money each year on books as well as reading and math materials.

At the award ceremony, Sipe’s lasting contributions to Green Lake Elementary, where she currently teaches 3rd and 4th grade, were noted by parents and fellow teachers, as well as returning high school and middle school students. Included in those speeches was middle schooler Genevieve Lardizaba, who told Sipe, “Not only did you teach the fundamentals of learning, but you also taught us how to be good citizens. I remember when you taught us a lesson about the difference between equity and equality, a lesson that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Outgoing parent Katie Harris, whose children had Sipe for six years, added, “Every time I walked into her classroom, the students were engaged, managing themselves, empowered, and happy…She taught my children to be conscientious citizens of the world, to work hard, aim high…to be nurturing, caring, and to stand up for what’s right.”

The community-wide assembly included an original song, “In This Moment” written for Sipe by former parent, Jonathan Albert, and performed by the school’s parent-rock band, Mystery Meat.